Celebrate Your Love with a Unity Candle Ceremony

Your wedding day is a big moment—one that marks the beginning of your life together. Many couples look for ways to make their ceremony meaningful, and one tradition that’s seeing a comeback is the Unity Candle Ceremony

A Wedding Tradition Making A Comeback

This simple yet heartfelt ritual is all about coming together as a couple and blending your lives in a way that everyone can see. It’s a beautiful way to involve loved ones, looks great in photos and is a wonderful memory

What Is a Unity Candle Ceremony?
The Unity Candle Ceremony is a wedding ritual where each partner lights a single larger candle using their own smaller candles. It’s a symbol of two lives joining as one while still honouring your individual stories.
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It also represents the coming together of two families, making it a lovely way to include them in your special day.

How Does It Work?
The ceremony uses three candles:

1. Two smaller taper candles: Representing each of you and your families.
2. One larger unity candle: Representing your new life together.

The Steps:

• A family member—often a parent—lights the smaller candles at the start of the ceremony. Or you can light them yourselves.
• You and your partner then use those candles to light the larger one together.​

Want to make it your own?
Ask someone special: 

• your children ( if they are old enough), 
• a grandparent, sibling, or a close friend.  
• An elder from your marae, or a mentor

A fun option is during the pre-ceremony housekeeping—you can involve your guests by having two names pulled out of a jar, and they light the candle before the ceremony starts. 

Unity candle at T+ L Wedding Ceremony at Arowhenua Marae | Photo Jade

What Makes It Special?
This ceremony is a quiet, intimate moment in your wedding where you can reflect on the commitment you’re making.

• It’s Visual: Everyone gets to see the symbolism of your union.
• It’s Personal: You can make it unique with your own style and ideas.
• It Includes Others: Family and friends can play a role in your ceremony.

It’s a small addition to your wedding, but it leaves a lasting impression.

How to Make Your Unity Candle Ceremony Unique
There are plenty of ways to add a personal touch to this tradition. Here are a few ideas:

• Pick Special Candles: Choose candles that match your wedding colours, or personalise them with your name and wedding date.
  
• Add Music:  Play an instrumental version of a favourite song or have a loved one sing while you light the candle.
  
• Share a Reading or Poem: Include a meaningful reading that speaks to your love story, like Harold Douglas’s “Soft Mists Embrace Two Golden Flames.” (poem at end of article)
• DIY for a Budget-Friendly Option: Skip the store-bought kits and use candles that reflect your personality or theme. It’s a fun way to save money while keeping it meaningful.

Outdoor Weddings: Tips for Windy Days
If you’re having an outdoor wedding, wind can make it tricky to light candles. Don’t worry—there are ways to work around it:

• Use windproof holders to protect the flame.
• Light a small votive candle indoors and use it to light the unity candle outside.
• Use a long handled lighter if having windproof holders
• Always check with your venue about open flame rules to stay safe.

How long does it take?
Only about 3–5 minutes, so it’s a meaningful addition that doesn’t take up too much time.

Whether you stick to tradition or make it unique, the Unity Candle Ceremony is a lovely way to celebrate your love and connection. It’s not just a part of your wedding, it’s a memory you’ll carry with you forever.

🕯️Ready to light the flame of your love?
Let this tradition add an unforgettable glow to your big day!

Getting married -Let's chat,
Love Jade x

Popular reading for unity candle ceremony.
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Poem by Harold Douglas 

“Soft mists embrace two golden flames,
Alone they search the night.
Two souls adrift in dreams of love,
They seek to claim the light.
The path is long from which they came,
But sure they are it’s right.
Two flames embrace in dreams of love,
Two Souls – Two Hearts Unite.”